Steering gear for tractors



' Oct. 10, 1939.

7 F. MADDEN 2,175,965

STEERING GEAR FOR TRACTOHS Filed March 2, 1939 gu vulz/wboo E fin/iMadden 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Oct. 10, 1939. F. MADDEN STEERING GEAR FORTRACTORS Filed March 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hm I Madden 0G? 1 Plastcs-. 10, 1939i UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE 2,175,965 s'rnnnmo GEAR FOR'rnec'rons Frank Madden, Earlville, 111,

Application March 2, 1939, Serial No.

- 5 Claims. This invention relates to a steering gear for tractors andit aims to provide a construction permitting adjustment or variation inthe posi- Figure 3 is a view in front elevation showing the wheels ofFigure l adjusted to a diflerent' position from that figure,

m Fleur-e1,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the '30 plane of line H ofFigure 2,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken at the connectio of one oithe wheels with the axle,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on w the line M of Figure1,

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 17-? at Figurel, and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken om the line H of Figure 4.

m Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters designate like or similar parts, a frame of a conventionaltractor or similar vehicle is'shown at it, iragmentarily, having avertical holster or hearing it provided cen- 45 trally at the frontthereof, in which a vertical steering post or rod 82 is mounted forrotation by a a hand wheel (not shown) from above or in anyother'suitable manner. Removahly disposed horizontally across the 5front of the tractor is an axle member iii. In

order to rigidly connect such member 53, an outwardly and downwardlyextending lug I4 is provided on the bearing ii, behind which the axle l3intimately fits and is secured in place by a means of a belt or the likel passingthrough one of the openings I 6 of said axle. Such openingspermit lateral according to the position of the axle.

Said axle at each end has vertically spaced Cranks 28 extend rearwardlyfrom the bearings 22 and a cross rod 29 is detachably connected to themby vertical bolts at 30. A drag link 3! is pivotally connected at 32 tothe cross rod 29 and at 33 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 3twhich has an attaching head or bracket 35 An externally tapered hub 36is keyed at 31 removably to the lower end of the steering rod or shafti2, being held in place thereon as by a nut 38. This hub 38 is smallerat the bots5 screw 12 passing through the bracket 35 and securing thesame in one of the. recesses. Reverting to the pivotal connection 33,the

45, according to the ad- 'I'he pivotal connection is preferably a ball33 engaged in adjustable block members 46 constituting a sockettherefor.

As a result of the construction described the wheels 23 may be steeredthrough the turning of the steering shaft l2, and the action of thecrank 34, drag link 3i, cross rod 29, cranks 28, bearings 22 andspindles 24. In many instances, the wheels being self-steering wherethey travel furrows, thus relieving the operator.

Attention is called to the fact that the recesses 26 and 39 are similarin size and shape. This is true of the brackets or heads 25 and 35 andalso of the screw threaded openings at 40 and M and the screws 21 and42. As a result, the axle l3 and parts connected thereto may be removedwhen desired and the wheels fastened in the more advantageous positionof Figure 3 according to the work in hand. In such position, it will berealized that the brackets or heads 25 are located in the recesses 39with the screws 21 thereof being threaded into the openings 40.

Various additional objects and advantages may be resorted to providedthey fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A tractor of the class described having a steering post provided witha hub, an axle, bearings at the outer ends of said axle, meansjournaling the bearings on the axle, wheel spindles, a steeringconnection between said bearings and said post, means on said bearingsand means on said hub for selective attachment of said wheel spindles tosaid bearings or said hub.

2. A steering post provided with a hub, an axle, bearings at the outerends of said axle, means journaling the bearings on the axle, wheelspindles, a steering connection between said bearings and said post, andmeans for selective attachment of said wheel spindles to said bearingsor said hub, comprising recesses in said bearings and said hub,

, brackets on said spindles engageable in said retractor of the classdescribed having 9,-

cesses, and fastening elements passing through the brackets and engagingthe adjacent parts.

3. A tractor of the class described having a steering post provided witha hub, an axle, bearings at the outer ends of said axle, meansjournaling the bearings on the axle, wheel spindles, a steeringconnection said post, and means for selective attachment of said wheelspindles to said bearings or said hub, comprising recesses in saidbearings and said hub, and brackets on the spindles shaped to fit saidrecesses, said brackets and recesses decreasing in width in an upwarddirection. i

4. A tractor oi the class described having a steering post provided witha hub, an axle, bearings at the outer ends of said axle, meansjournaling the bearings on the axle, wheel spindles, a steeringconnection between said bearings and said post, means for selectiveattachment of said wheel spindles to said bearings or said hub,comprising recesses in said bearings and said hub, and brackets on thespindles shaped to fit said recesses, said brackets and recessesdecreasing in width in an upward direction, and being of dove-tail shapein cross section.

5. A tractor oi the class described having a steering post provided witha hub, an axle, bearings at the outer ends of said axle, meansjournaling the bearings on the axle, wheel spindles, a steeringconnection between said bearings and said post, means for selectiveattachment of said wheel spindles to said bearings or said hub,comprising recesses in said bearings and said hub, and brackets on thespindles shaped to fit said recesses, and being of dove-tail shape incross section.

FRANK MADDEN.

between said bearings and.

